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Review: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , ,
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot #1)
Peter Brown
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published April 5, 2016

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Wild Robot

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is—but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home—until, one day, the robot’s mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.

My Review

Okay, so I’m probably one of the last people to read this book, especially now that it’s been made into a movie. The good news is that making something into a movie usually helps to motivate me to read the book if I haven’t already. I like to read the book first so that my first experience with the story is in the author’s words.

I picked up a copy of The Wild Robot while shopping for my birthday last year. Near Christmas, I found myself in a pretty fierce reading slump, and an illustrated book with short chapters seemed very appealing to me at that moment, so I started reading.

And from the first few chapters, I was hooked on the story. Really, once we got to the animals and their reactions to Roz, I began to deeply invest in what was happening. I love the way that the simple illustrations convey emotion. My heart squeezed at the image of the robot standing at the top of a tree. The robot holding a gosling while he fell asleep was so sweet.

I love the way the book balances an open look at natural order with a more anthropomorphic one about the value of community, familial love, and relationships. The animal characters include predators and prey, and while nobody gets eaten on scene, it’s referenced around the story’s edges. Roz adopts a gosling and raises him until he can join the other geese. She explores what it means to be a mother and what it means to raise someone well.

I enjoyed the different characters and the way they pull together when faced with an unknown threat or pull together to help one of their own community members. This is a sweet story and a pretty quick read. If you haven’t read it yet, definitely check out The Wild Robot.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
The main character is Roz, a robot. Most other characters are animals.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A hurricane sinks a ship carrying boxes of robots. Some robots get destroyed before they reach the island. Roz accidentally kills a family of geese. The story references predator animals eating other animals. At one point, robots fight the island’s inhabitants. One uses a gun to subdue others.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.

Review: Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Historical, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , ,

Show Me a Sign
Ann Clare LeZotte
Scholastic Press
Published March 3, 2020

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Show Me a Sign

Deaf author and librarian Ann Clare LeZotte weaves an Own Voices story inspired by the true history of a thriving deaf community on Martha’s Vineyard in the early 19th century.
Mary Lambert has always felt safe and protected on her beloved island of Martha’s Vineyard. Her great-grandfather was an early English settler and the first deaf islander. Now, over a hundred years later, many people there – including Mary – are deaf, and nearly everyone can communicate in sign language. Mary has never felt isolated. She is proud of her lineage.

But recent events have delivered winds of change. Mary’s brother died, leaving her family shattered. Tensions over land disputes are mounting between English settlers and the Wampanoag people. And a cunning young scientist has arrived, hoping to discover the origin of the island’s prevalent deafness. His maniacal drive to find answers soon renders Mary a “live specimen” in a cruel experiment. Her struggle to save herself is at the core of this novel.

My Review

I’ve read the other two books in this series, and both reference back to the trauma Mary endures in this book. All three stories are powerfully told. Mary is a compelling character. She’s strong and determined, confident in what she knows is right.

Each book in the series explores different aspects of how the Deaf were treated during the early 19th century while centering Deaf voices and experiences. Now that I’ve read all three books, I feel like I have a better understanding of why the second and third books went in certain directions, and I can’t help but appreciate them even more than I did when I first read them.

The setting and time period felt so real to me, from the descriptions of Mary’s home and daily life to the values and beliefs her family held. I love Mary’s relationship with Ezra Brewer and her best friend, Nancy. Both of those relationships taught her things and offered support in sometimes unexpected ways.

I think readers who enjoy historical novels, especially those set in the northeast United States, will love this first book in the series by Ann Clare LeZotte.

Content Notes for Show Me a Sign

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Mary and many of her community members are Deaf.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
References to racist language, but Mary doesn’t state the words. Some characters make their prejudice against indigenous or black people clear.

Romance/Sexual Content
Mary is embarrassed/uncomfortable when a doctor examines her spine from her neck to her bottom and her throat to her breast.

Spiritual Content
Mary and her family attend church and pray. She and her best friend make up a ritual they hope will help lay to rest the spirit of Mary’s brother, who died before the story begins. Mary speaks to a person who works for her father and lives with and is part of the Wampanoag tribe. They compare spiritual beliefs and beliefs about the land and whether the land can be divided into parcels and owned.

Violent Content
References to Mary’s brother’s death. He was trampled by a horse and carriage in an accident. References to a man beating a child to punish her for her behavior.

Someone kidnaps a girl, imprisoning her against her will. Some scenes show or reference physical abuse and neglect. (A woman hits a girl’s ears. The girl has bruises in other places. She doesn’t receive enough to eat and is forced to labor all day and locked in a room at night.) A man performs medical exams (not sexual) on a girl without her consent.

Drug Content
References to alcoholism and adults drinking alcohol.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Coyote Queen by Jessica Vitalis

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , ,

Coyote Queen
Jessica Vitalis
GreenWillow Books
Published October 10, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Coyote Queen

When a twelve-year-old decides that she must get herself and her mother out of a bad situation, an eerie connection to a coyote pack helps her see who she’s meant to be—and who she can truly save. The Benefits of Being an Octopus meets The Nest in this contemporary middle grade novel about family class, and resilience, with a magical twist.

Twelve-year-old Fud feels trapped. She lives a precarious life in a cramped trailer with her mom and her mom’s alcoholic ex-boxer boyfriend, Larry. Fud can see it’s only a matter of time until Larry explodes again, even if her mom keeps on making excuses for his behavior. If only Fud could find a way to be as free as the coyotes roaming the Wyoming countryside: strong, smart, independent, and always willing to protect their own.

When Larry comes home with a rusted-out houseboat, Fud is horrified to hear that he wants to fix it up for them to live on permanently. All she sees is a floating prison. Then new-neighbor Leigh tells Fud about Miss Black Gold, a beauty pageant sponsored by the local coal mine. While Fud doesn’t care much about gowns or talents or prancing around on stage, she cares very much about getting herself and her mom away from Larry before the boat is finished. And to do that, she needs money, in particular that Miss Black Gold prize money.

One problem: the more Fud has fantasized about escape, the more her connection to the coyotes lurking outside her window has grown. And strange things have started happening—is Fud really going color-blind? Are her eyebrows really getting bushier? And why does it suddenly seem like she can smell everything?

Jessica Vitalis crafts a moving and voice-driven novel about family and resilience, with a fantastical twist. Coyote Queen is perfect for readers of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise and The Elephant in the Room.

My Review

I just recently read Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis, but Coyote Queen has been on my list for a long time. I’m really glad I finally got to read it.

One of the things this book does so well is that it puts the reader right in the middle of a complex family situation. Fud (short for Felicity Ulyssa Dahlers) recognizes the danger in the situation she lives in, but she feels powerless to get her and her mom away from her mom’s boyfriend and his explosive temper.

Through the story, Fud faces situations in which she asks herself whether what’s happening is abuse. It doesn’t feel so clear when she feels she’s in danger, but no one has harmed her yet. Where is the tipping point? Those are awful questions for a child to face alone, and yet to many do.

This sensitive story explores those feelings of isolation and the pressure of trying not to add burdens to the adults in the family. It’s so easy to understand why Fud does what she does.

The magical realism element is an unusual choice for a contemporary novel, but I really think it works here. Fud’s transformation creates a powerful visual showing that her body knows when she’s feeling threatened. If she learns to listen to those cues and respond by setting boundaries or getting to a safer place, her body responds by calming down, too. I love that metaphor and the message of trusting our bodies to know when we’re in danger. It’s something we probably don’t talk about enough with our kids.

Readers who enjoy novels about relationships or the transition to middle school will enjoy Coyote Queen.

Content Notes for Coyote Queen

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Fud is in a family with low income and lives with someone who displays violent outbursts.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to Fud’s mom and boyfriend kissing.

Spiritual Content
Fud begins noticing changes in her body, like color blindness, bushier eyebrows, and a desire to bite people she perceives as a threat.

Violent Content
A man displays violent outbursts. A group of girls bullies another girl, calling her unkind nicknames and ostracizing her. A girl attacks another girl, knocking her to the ground and hitting her. Someone pushes a girl down the stairs.

Drug Content
Scenes show an adult drinking alcohol.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: True or False by Cindy L. Otis

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News
Cindy L. Otis
Feiwel & Friends
Published July 28, 2020

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News

“If I could pick one book to hand to every teen—and adult—on earth, this is the one. True or False is accessible, thorough, and searingly honest, and we desperately needed it.” —Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

“Though billed for young adults, this is a book that every adult should read.” –The Washington Post

A former CIA analyst unveils the true history of fake news and gives readers tips on how to avoid falling victim to it in this highly designed informative YA nonfiction title.

“Fake news” is a term you’ve probably heard a lot in the last few years, but it’s not a new phenomenon. From the ancient Egyptians to the French Revolution to Jack the Ripper and the founding fathers, fake news has been around as long as human civilization. But that doesn’t mean that we should just give up on the idea of finding the truth.

In True or False, former CIA analyst Cindy Otis will take readers through the history and impact of misinformation over the centuries, sharing stories from the past and insights that readers today can gain from them. Then, she shares lessons learned in over a decade working for the CIA, including actionable tips on how to spot fake news, how to make sense of the information we receive each day, and, perhaps most importantly, how to understand and see past our own information biases, so that we can think critically about important issues and put events happening around us into context.

True or False includes a wealth of photo illustrations, informative inserts, and sidebars containing interesting facts and trivia sure to engage readers in critical thinking and analysis.

My Review

Oof. This book was such a wild ride for me. It was great. Seriously, it’s got a ton of great information and has a great way of zooming out on history and looking at trends in news content in terms of sensational, emotional news versus spare, facts-only information.

One of the things that I took away from the book is that we’ve been around this mountain before. We’ve seen news outlets push deeper and deeper into rumor-based, fear-focused journalism. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care or be concerned. But having the perspective of history did help me feel less overwhelmed and offer some hope.

Additionally, Otis offers a lot of clear, specific tips on how to check to see if content is fake or fact. She talks about how to respond when you spot a hoax being shared online.

Though a lot of that information was at least a little familiar to me, I liked having all those tips available in one place so that I can flip back through them periodically.

I will note that the book was published in 2020, and one section talks about using the blue verification check on Twitter to tell if an account is actually the person it claims to be. Now that Twitter’s rules have changed and that verification mark can be purchased, I don’t know that it’s a way to prove the identity of an account anymore. The verification requirements say that an account can’t be misleading, but it doesn’t make it clear that identity is confirmed as a part of the process.

Other than that section, I thought the information was still super useful. This is a great book to give a teen who is looking for resources on this topic. I think adults could benefit from the information as well.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
The author is a wheelchair user and CIA analyst. She makes reference to events around the world in which the spread or control of information or disinformation have had an impact on society and culture.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to romantic partnerships.

Spiritual Content
References to spiritual beliefs.

Violent Content
References to murder, people being endangered by publicly stating their identity, political protest, lies about medical information. References to rumors about governments creating biological weapons.

Drug Content
Reference to smoking and studies about smoking.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.

Review: Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , ,

Those Pink Mountain Nights
Jen Ferguson
Heartdrum
Published September 12, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Those Pink Mountain Nights

In her remarkable second novel following her acclaimed debut, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, which won the Governor General’s Award and received six starred reviews, Jen Ferguson writes about the hurt of a life stuck in past tense, the hum of connections that cannot be severed, and one week in a small snowy town that changes everything.

Over-achievement isn’t a bad word—for Berlin, it’s the goal. She’s securing excellent grades, planning her future, and working a part-time job at Pink Mountain Pizza, a legendary local business. Who says she needs a best friend by her side?

Dropping out of high school wasn’t smart—but it was necessary for Cameron. Since his cousin Kiki’s disappearance, it’s hard enough to find the funny side of life, especially when the whole town has forgotten Kiki. To them, she’s just another missing Native girl.

People at school label Jessie a tease, a rich girl—and honestly, she’s both. But Jessie knows she contains multitudes. Maybe her new job crafting pizzas will give her the high-energy outlet she desperately wants.

When the weekend at Pink Mountain Pizza takes unexpected turns, all three teens will have to acknowledge the various ways they’ve been hurt—and how much they need each other to hold it all together.

My Review

The story alternates between the perspectives of Berlin, Cameron, Jessie, and Kiki and centers around their connection to a local pizza parlor that they learn the owner plans to sell. Kiki’s chapters are in verse and start in the past leading toward the time when she disappeared. All four voices are distinct in the way they perceive the world and respond. Berlin’s grief over her recently lost friendship and the pervasive numbness she feels colors all of her experiences. She tries to keep up with school and work as if everything is normal, but it has become an immense struggle.

Cameron has big feelings about his family, especially his missing cousin, but also his younger sisters, whom he feels he must protect, and his father, who treads the water of his own grief. Cam hasn’t felt seen or understood by Berlin, but as they begin to get to know one another again, they form a surprising bond that helps them both in unexpected ways.

Jessie has a spectacular voice, too. She uses words in interesting ways and brings a lot of humor to the page, which might seem odd, since she carries her own grief and sadness, too.

This is a messy story with messy characters being real about how hard life can be sometimes, even for people who, on the outside, seem to have everything going for them. It’s also a story about internalized prejudices and how invisible they can be without deliberate action to root them out.

Ferguson is a hard-hitting author who trusts readers to be able to face hard truths and delivers compelling characters.I seem to be reading her books backward, since I started with her most recent release, A Constellation of Minor Bears, and then read this one. Up next: The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, which I’ve heard great things about.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Cameron and Berlin are Native. Kiki is biracial, Black and Native. Jessie is a cancer survivor and is LGBTQIA+. Cameron has a learning disability.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A handful of F-bombs and other swear words.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two girls. Kissing between boy and girl. An implied sexual relationship between an adult and a teenage girl. A girl makes reference to an adult who routinely comes on to teenage girls. References to the fact that a girl enjoys making out with people.

Spiritual Content
References to Métis and Cree beliefs and rituals. Berlin and Cameron find a severely injured wapati (elk) and help end her pain. Both feel the presence of the wapati’s spirit in their lives in different ways after that and follow its leading.

Violent Content
References to a sexual relationship between and adult and a teenager. Nothing happens on scene. Cameron ends the pain of a severely injured wapati. Some characters make ani-Indigenous comments or statements. Major characters push back on those. Characters encounter anti-Black statements in a social media campaign. The story explores the impact of anti-Black feeling and actions toward a Black man and young Black and Indigenous woman. The novel also discusses the disparity in police response to missing Native women compared to other missing persons cases.

Drug Content
References to a teenager smoking.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Vanquishers: Rise of the Wrecking Crew by Kalynn Bayron

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, Paranormal

The Vanquishers: Rise of the Wrecking Crew (Vanquishers #3)
Kalynn Bayron
Bloomsbury USA
Published October 8, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Vanquishers: Rise of the Wrecking Crew

In the heart-stopping conclusion to the Vanquishers series by New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron, it is time for the final stand against the undead.

San Antonio is on lockdown, taken over by the new hive. No one can deny that the undead are back now, but the Vanquishers found out the hard way: when they learned that an old friend is behind the latest string of attacks.

As the Squad hide out at an abandoned combat training facility, honing their vampire-butt-kicking skills, they begin to suspect that they’re not alone. And when a vial of Dracula’s blood–able to give unrivaled power to the vampire that consumes it–is stolen from the bunker, the Vanquishers race to recover it before it falls into the wrong hands.

The Vanquishers have always been Boog’s family, the ones she trusts the most. But what does it mean when a former Vanquisher, one of her heroes, is now hunting the enemy?

My Review

I got ridiculously behind on my reading this past fall. This book is the third and final installment of a series that’s been a lot of fun to read by an author who has such incredible range. We’ve seen Kalynn Bayron write compelling middle grade fantasy, a powerful historical fiction reimagining of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, and a young adult thriller that was a wild ride, and, of course, the unforgettable young adult fantasy she’s widely known for. And she rocks all of it! Amazing.

The Vanquishers series is a lot of fun. It’s got a supernatural vibe with a cast of great characters in a tight-knit community. I love the community element, and it’s really well-balanced. The adults don’t outshine the kids by being present, but they are present. There are lots of different kinds of families and generations represented. The adults have their own backstory and their own drama happening, but the kids take centerstage and deliver the big moments of the story.

This one is also a great length at just over 200 pages. The back cover copy indicates it’s the finale of the series, but the story contains an epilogue that hints at a new story. Maybe there’s a spin-off coming?? Honestly, I hope that even if this series is really and truly over, we get more paranormal middle grade books from Kalynn Bayron.

The Vanquishers: Rise of the Wrecking Crew is set in the real world (plus vampires), but I could still see it appealing to readers who enjoyed Witchlings by Claribel Ortega.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Boog and several other characters are Black. One character is nonbinary. One has two dads.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Vampires exist in this story world. Some characters are part of an elite group trained to kill vampires with silver, etc.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Several vampires are vanquished in the course of the story. They turn to dust afterward.

Drug Content
A vial of Dracula’s blood can bestow powerful abilities to a vampire who consumes it.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.